Nobody - I mean nobody wants a high repair bill.  Ever!  So why ignore the easy things like filters and fluids?  Here at Mercie J Auto Care our Mesa drivers know that their car and truck’s filters are important to the longevity of that vehicle as well as the interior comfort. Maximize your car investment by replacing filters regularly.  The oil filter traps contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine unrestricted. The fuel filter separates harmful contaminants that may cause problems with carburetors or intricate fuel injectors. The air filter traps dirt particles, which can cause damage to engine cylinders, walls, pistons and piston rings. The air filter also plays a role in keeping contaminants off the airflow sensor (in fuel-injected cars). The cabin filter helps trap pollen, bacteria and dust that may find their way into a car’s ventilation system.  Keeping the filters and fluids changed regularly is simply a win-win solution!

At Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, we understand that driving style affects your vehicle’s performance and reliability. You probably know that frequent, hard acceleration is bad for your engine and transmission, but what about speed?

At Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ, one of our primary objectives is to keep you informed on how to best care for your vehicle. With temperatures dropping this time of year, a question often comes to mind; is it ok to idle my car for extended periods of time?

Your gas mileage mostly depends on what kind of car you drive; engine displacement and vehicle weight are the largest determining factors on gas mileage, and there’s not much you can do to change either of those. That doesn’t mean attempting to improve your fuel economy is a completely hopeless endeavor, however. With these tips from Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ, you might be surprised how much your fuel mileage can be improved.

Make sure all your tires are at the correct pressure. You wouldn’t think the amount of air in your tires has much of an effect on your gas mileage, but the added friction actually makes a noticeable difference. Maintaining proper pressure in all of your tires not only saves your tires from unnecessary wear, it is an essential aspect of maximizing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Obviously, keeping your foot out of the throttle also helps increase your gas mileage. Use smooth movements of the accelerator, and use as little of it as possible. This also allows your transmission (if its an automatic) to shift into the highest available gear, improving your fuel economy. When you need to slow down, don’t wait until the last second, hit the brakes, then take off from a start. If you see a red light, for example, coast to slow down while you wait for the light to change. Most fuel is wasted while the car is under acceleration, especially from a stop. The less stop and go driving you maintain, the better your gas mileage will be.

The most essential aspect of good gas mileage is a good running and well maintained vehicle. Dragging brakes, poorly maintained oil service, failing wheel bearings, or anything that interrupts smooth operation will take a toll on your gas mileage. Failed sensors will cause your vehicle to enter a sort of default running mode, in which the engine typically runs a little on the rich side, which wastes more gas. If your check engine light is on, your gas mileage is probably being affected. A car that runs and operates correctly will get far better gas mileage than one that needs a tune up.

Follow this advice, and you’ll notice a definite increase in fuel economy. If your vehicle needs a tune up, a check engine light code read, or any other maintenance or repair, don’t hesitate to call or visit Mercie J Auto Care today. Our technicians will make sure your car is running reliably, and efficiently.

As cold weather grips much of the country, there’s a good chance you’ll either have to live with it or travel through it at some point this winter. You may have never considered the freezing point of gasoline as an issue, but should you? Mercie J Auto Care in Mesa, AZ has the answer.